Ski boot construction

ABSTRACT

A ski boot construction comprises a boot shell to which a front bootleg and a rear bootleg are pivoted, the front bootleg being pivoted to the shell at a front pivot pin, and the rear bootleg being pivoted to the boot shell at a rear pivot pin, said rear pivot pin being arranged at a withdrawn and lower position with respect to said front pivot pin, the position of said front bootleg being adapted to be locked, with respect to said boot shell, through a locking hook element which can be automatically actuated by inclining frontward the front bootleg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a boot construction, particularly a skiboot construction.

As is known, in practicing ski sports, dedicated ski boots adapted tofacilitate when necessary the ski user walk are conventionally used.

Modern ski boots usually comprise a ski bootleg assembly, pivoted to arigid boot shell thereby varying the bootleg inclination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide such a boot construction,particularly a ski boot, which is greatly improved with respect to priorski boots.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of theinvention is to provide such a ski boot construction which, owing to itsspecifically designed constructional structural features, is veryreliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentionedaim and object, as well as yet other objects, which will become moreapparent hereinafter, are achieved by a boot construction, particularlya ski boot, characterized in that said boot construction comprises aboot shell to which a front bootleg and a rear bootleg are pivoted, thefront bootleg being pivoted to the shell at a front pivot pin, and therear bootleg being pivoted to the boot shell at a rear pivot pin, saidrear pivot pin being arranged at a withdrawn and lower position withrespect to said front pivot pin, a position of said front bootleg beingadapted to be locked, with respect to said boot shell, through a lockinghook element which can be automatically actuated by frontward incliningthe front bootleg

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosureof a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, whichis illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, inthe accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the ski boot, showing, in particular,a hook element for locking the ski bootleg assembly;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the ski boot sole;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the ski boot shown in an openedcondition thereof;

FIG. 5 is a further side elevation view, similar to FIG. 4, but showingthe ski boot in a closed condition thereof;

FIG. 6 is a further side elevation view taken from the opposite side inrespect to FIG. 4, showing the ski boot in an opened position thereof;and

FIG. 7 is a further side elevation view, similar to FIG. 6, but showingthe ski boot in a closed condition thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures,the ski boot construction according to the present invention, which hasbeen generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a bootshell 2, to which a front bootleg 3 and a rear bootleg 4 are pivoted.

The front bootleg 3 is pivoted to the shell 2 at a front pivot pin 5,whereas the rear bootleg 4 is pivoted to the boot shell 2 at a rearpivot pin 6, said rear pivot pin being arranged at a withdrawn and lowerposition with respect to said front pivot pin 5.

Said pivot pins 5 and 6 allow the respective bootlegs 3 and 4 to berotated from a fully opened condition, shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, to afully closed condition, shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7.

At their closed condition, the bootlegs are locked to one another byadjustable locking means comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a lever7, pivoted to a plate 8 in turn pivoted to a side of the rear bootleg 4.

The lever element 7 is designed to tension a loop cable 9, engaging saidlever element 7 with a rack assembly 10, coupled to the front bootleg 3.

According to the present invention, the position, i.e. the inclinationof the front and rear bootlegs may be locked, with respect to the bootshell 2, through a locking hook element 11.

Said locking hook element 11 is pivoted to a front portion of the frontbootleg 3, and is adapted to engage in a recess 12 formed in the bootshell 2.

Thus, by inclining frontward said front bootleg, said hook element 11 ispivoted to a front portion of the front bootleg and is adapted toautomatically engage in said recess 12 while locking said front bootleg3 with respect to said boot shell 2.

As shown, the boot shell 2 comprises a shell sole 13 including acontoured heel element 14.

Said boot construction 1 comprises moreover an inner shoe structuretherein.

With reference to FIG. 1, it is shown herein that, in the inventive skiboot 1, the top portion thereof is closed at a foot neck 20, therebyproviding the boot construction with a target structural strength whiletightly sealing the foot.

FIG. 1 also shows a supporting member 21 supporting a lever element 22adapted to be clamped to a cylindric bar element 23.

Said lever element 22 has a hook end portion 24 engageable with saidcylindric bar element 23 for locking said front bootleg 3.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim andobjects.

In fact, the invention provides an improved ski boot construction inwhich the bootlegs may be locked with respect to the boot shell in aquick and easy manner by a simple frontward rotary movement causing ahook element to be locked in a boot shell recess.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as thecontingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements.

1. A boot construction, particularly a ski boot, characterized in thatsaid boot construction comprises a boot shell to which a front bootlegand a rear bootleg are pivoted, the front bootleg being pivoted to theshell at a front pivot pin, and the rear bootleg being pivoted to theboot shell at a rear pivot pin, said rear pivot pin being arranged at awithdrawn and lower position with respect to said front pivot pin, aposition of said front bootleg being adapted to be locked, with respectto said boot shell, through a locking hook element which can beautomatically actuated by inclining frontward the front bootleg.
 2. Aboot construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that saidlocking hook element is pivoted to a front portion of the front bootlegand is adapted to engage with a recess formed in the boot shell,thereby, by inclining frontward said front bootleg, said hook element isrotatively driven to automatically engage in said recess while lockingsaid front bootleg with respect to said boot shell.
 3. A bootconstruction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said pivotpins allow the respective bootlegs to be rotated between a fully openedposition and a fully closed position thereof.
 4. A boot construction,according to claim 1, characterized in that said boot constructioncomprises adjustable locking means designed for locking said bootleg atthe closed position thereof.
 5. A boot construction, according to claim4, characterized in that said adjustable locking means comprise a leverelement pivoted to a plate element in turn clamped to a side of a rearbootleg, said lever element allowing to tension a loop cable, engagingsaid lever element with a rack assembly coupled to the front bootleg. 6.A boot construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that saidshell comprises a shell sole including a contoured heel element.
 7. Aboot construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said bootconstruction comprises an inner shoe structure therein.
 8. A ski bootconstruction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said ski bootconstruction comprises a top portion thereof closed at a foot neck,thereby providing the boot construction with a target structuralstrength while tightly sealing the foot.
 9. A boot construction,according to claim 1, characterized in that said boot constructioncomprises a member supporting a lever element adapted to be clamped to acylindric bar element, said lever element having a hook end portionengageable with said cylindric bar element for locking said frontbootleg.